Characteristics

Most 1920s buildings are easy to recognize once you know what to look for. At the same time, Weimar Republic architecture was anything but uniform. Neues Bauen stood for restraint and function, while Expressionism pursued the opposite, with dramatic forms and emotional impact. Traditionalism, in turn, rejected any major break with the past.

Still, each of these movements developed distinct features that appear again and again. Below is an overview of these typical characteristics. Click on any one to see examples and learn more.